Heating with Oil - New Developments

Because of new burner technologies, low sulfur fuels, and bio fuels, North Americans are finding out what Europeans have known for a while - heating with oil makes good sense.

Over the past several years, there has been an evolution in heating oil technology that will affect heating efficiency, emissions, and appliance configurations. Condensing boilers and furnaces have brought a significant increase in efficiency to natural-gas-fired appliances, and the same potential efficiency jump exists for oil-fired appliances. An oil-fired condensing boiler or furnace can achieve an efficiency rating of 90%–95%; noncondensing boilers and furnaces can be 84%–86% efficient. Condensing oil furnaces have been available for years, but concerns over corrosion, cost, maintenance, and reliability have severely limited the market for the oil-fired versions of these appliances. That may be changing.To a large degree, this change has been supported by efforts of the U.S. DOE, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA),working with research organizations, manufacturers, and service organizations.NORA,the leading industry organization involved with advancing fuel oil technology, recently sponsored the development of a new oil-fired condensing warm-air furnace that features a condensing section that is very easy to maintain.This new furnace is currently available as the HEO Series from the Dornback Furnace ...